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| Ever
wanted to be a dancer? Or does the very idea
strike fear into your heart? ALOVE speaks
to dancer extraordinaire GEMMA EVANS about
dancing, worship and faith. |
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What
has dancing got to do with faith?
For me I have faith to believe that dancing
is what God wants me to do as a career. I
never wanted to be a dancer – it was
just a hobby for me – but doors were
opened up for me in different places and in
faith, I went through those doors because
I believed that was what I was meant to do.
I now couldn’t imagine doing anything
else! Dancing also deepens my faith in God;
I encounter Him through movement and have
seen others be blessed by seeing dance.
How can you
use dance to express your worship to God?
Just by dancing! God loves to see us express
our feelings and worship through dance wherever
and whenever it is. I have spent the last
3 years training in ballet and contemporary
dance – and I have discovered that it’s
SO possible to worship God when taking part
in a gruelling ballet class just as it is
to worship Him in church.
What
do you feel when you dance?
I feel a closeness with God through movement.
I feel un-inhibited and free in being able
to give God praise.
What
would you say to people who would like to
try dancing but are terrified of looking silly?
I still feel like I look silly when I perform
in certain productions, or wear certain costumes
but if you really enjoy dancing and feel that
you can become closer to God through doing
it then just go for it! And that’s a
lesson to myself too! Something I’ve
said to almost everyone I’ve taught
is if you show on your face that you feel
silly then you will look silly – but
if you show that you’re confident, loving
what you’re doing and having a great
time, even if you go horribly wrong, then
you won’t look silly at all!
What does the
bible say about dance?
The bible doesn’t give specific instructions
on dancing but there are quite a few examples
of dance in the big book! In Exodus 15 v 20
Miriam was dancing to celebrate the victory
that God's power had brought at the Red Sea.
It is also widely known that David "danced
before the Lord" to celebrate the Ark
of the Covenant being brought back to Jerusalem.
Every instance of dancing in the bible that
is not considered sinful was done in worship
or praise to God. Psalm 149 v 3 and 150 v
4 – Both of these passages mention that
we can praise or worship God through dance.
Is dancing
for everyone?
I always tend to say that yes it is –
after all, we could all probably dance before
we could walk! However, just like people have
different taste in music, dance might not
be enjoyable to everyone. If it is a case
of a person liking dance but feeling that
they have two left feet that doesn’t
mean it isn’t for them. Dancing isn’t
always a series of choreographed steps and
movements – so when it’s not something
specific if can definitely be for everyone.
Age is never a problem either. The company
I work for teach workshops to small children
right through to the elderly. The workshops
clearly vary in content but nevertheless each
age group still gets to dance, and it’s
beautiful to see how people interpret things
differently.
How
can young people who are good at dancing get
more involved in bringing their love to a
local church environment?
It is so important that young people are supported
and encouraged to use their passions and gifts
in their church. When I was younger I used
to hate going to church, but my ministers
started a dance group specifically because
they knew dancing was something I enjoyed.
As a result I felt wanted and saw that it
was possible to enjoy myself at church. That’s
how I really started dancing and that’s
how my journey with God began. I hope people
never underestimate how important it is to
reach young people at their level.
For those who love dancing and want to use
it at church don’t be afraid to speak
to your leaders asking for support and encouragement.
Find out about dance in the bible so that
you know your stuff and explain why you think
it should be used, how it helps your worship,
and how it can help those who will see it.
I’m recently seeing in my church how
powerful sport can be as an outreach to the
local community, and dance fits into that
same category. Look at how you might be able
to include your friends or people from your
community in your dance group and let God
shine through the way you behave with each
other and in the conversations you have.
Click
here for more about Gemma Evans or visit:
www.gemmaevans.com |
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Youthwork -
The Partnership ...
ALOVE,
Youthwork Magazine, Youth For Christ, Spring Harvest and
Oasis are working together to equip and resource the Church
for effective youth work and ministry. |
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